The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-26


swell, to be sure, the children are as
good as anybody's children, but 1 do
think George might contrive some way
to get along instead of working all his
life on a paltry salary and letting me
work myself to death, or have nothing.
declare l am sick an6 tired of it."
"You surely wouldn't want your hus-
band to keep saloon and billiard hall as
James Foster does?"
Il wouldn't care what he did so he
furnished me plenty Of money. some
times feel enraged to think he won't stir
around and make money like other men."
"Rachel, Rachel, can't bear to hear
you talk in that way. You are tired and
nervous and allow yourself to think too
much about what you lack and not
enough OF the blessings you might enjoy.
Don't you remember those grand words
that DR.. Holland puts in the Mouth of
Mary when she chides her sister for muir
murlng?
Believe me. Grace, the pioneer of judgment
Ordained, commissioned, is Ingratitude;
For where it moves, good withers; blessings
die;
Till a clean path is left for Providence
Who never sows good the second time
Till the torn bosom of the graceless soil
Is ready for the seed
well, l suppose L am wicked" said
Rachel, shut can't help feeling that all
wives are happier and better off than ]
am, but [ must go on or 1 shan't get
home in time to cook the supper"
"Here, sister, is the money for this
work, and wouldn't you like to wear my
gold watch with your new dress?" said
Mary, taking it off and throwing the
chain around her sisters neck.
"Oh, indeed, would; how kind and
thoughtful you are" and she kissed the
pale face and hurried away with a lighter
heart, thinking, now surely she could
look as we'll as Mrs. Foster.
Poor Rachel, little did she know the
anguish that Mary Foster carried beneath
her fine clothes and dignifed bearing
and little did she dream of the trials that
like the refiner's fire awaited her. Hur
rying along through the busy streets, che
did not realize how tired she was till she
came to Mrs. Browns shop and found that
her dress was not half done. 10 say she
was disappointed would convey but {
faint idea of her emotions. She was an
CRY, indignant and unreasonably abus
i've.
In vain did Mrs. Brown try to explain
to her that her best help had been taker
suddenly very sick and had required
constant attention; that she herself ha6
worked nearly all night when she was
scarcely able to be out of bed. Rachel
was in no condition to use any reason and
she hurried home filled with the notion
that she was the most abused person il
the world. In fact she was insane with
nervousness and anger.
Entering, as she had left, by the kitchen
door, the first thing that her eyes rested
on, was the empty plate on which she had
left the cake that she had taken such
pains with and which che expected would
be praised by all the ladies at the party.
Here was another source of vexation.
| What had become Of her cake? Scarcely
had the question formed itself in heI
mind when she thought of the boys who
with her Willie, were playing camping
out" in the back yard, and at once de-
cided in her own mind that there was
where it had gone. She was in no condi
| ton to wait for proof, or even to doubt
her own conclusions; SO when Willie
tired and hungry, came in, saying, &c
mamma, l am glad you've come L am
SO hungry; please give me something to
eat" he received slap, first on one side
of Lis face and then on the other, with
"Don't tell meyou are hungry, you good
for-nothing boy, after you have carried
off and eaten up my cake. I'll teach you
better than that" and ebe gave him an,
other heavy blow, while the little fellow
cried, mo, mamma, no, L did not touch
it, sure I didn't, mammal
"Don't you lie to me-" the angry mo-
Their said, 81 know You took it," still
beating him till he staggered and would
have fallen, but she grasped his arm and
opening the stair door she pushed him
through, saying, "Now go to bed; you'll
not get any supper to night"
"Where is Willie?" said Mr.. Howard
as he sat down to supper and missed his
little boy. No reply.
"Say, ma, where is Willie" asked
Mollie earnestly.
"Don't trouble yourself about Willie
He had to be whipped and go to bed
without his supper"
"Why, what did Willie do?" exclaimed
both father and daughter in great sur
prise, for Willie seldom gave offenae.
"He stole that nice cake [ made for the
party and he and those pesky boys ate
every bit of it. And there's the empty
plate; and then he lied about it; said he
didn't touch it; but he won't steal another
cake very sooD, nor tell another lie either"
"No, mamma, Willie didn't touch it,